CLEMENT, FRANK GOAD (1920-1969) PAPERS, 1920-1969 Processed by: Harry A. Stokes Archives & Manuscripts Unit Technical Services Section Tennessee State Library and Archives Accession Number: 94-007 Date Completed: May 15, 1995 Location: XIX-A-E Microfilm Accession Number: 1512 INTRODUCTION This finding aid covers the personal papers of Frank Goad Clement (1920-1969). Mr. Clement served three terms as Governor of Tennessee: 1953-1955; 1955-1959; and 1963-1967. Previously he was a former F. B. I. agent, Chief Counsel for the State Public Utilities Commission; and a practicing Attorney in Dickson and Nashville, Tennessee. The Tennessee State Library and Archives received these materials on March 14, 1991, from the Clement family, through the agency of F. Lynne Bachleder for the State of Tennessee via contract with Designing Eye of Martinsville, Virginia. Mr. Clement’s papers include certificates, clippings, correspondence, financial records, invitations and programs, legal files, political campaign materials, photographs, schedules, and scrapbooks and speeches, all reflective of his professional career. Mr. Clement’s papers, along with other Clement historical artifacts, were housed for many years in the old Halbrook Hotel in Dickson, Tennessee. Mr. Clement’s mother, Maybelle Goad Clement, and her parents formerly owned and operated the Halbrook Hotel. The Frank G. Clement artifacts are presently in storage at the Tennessee State Museum. The inclusive dates of the material is for the period 1920 through 1969, although the bulk of the material is concentrated between 1952 through 1969. Many of the clippings in the scrapbooks were loose and had to be reaffixed to the pages. The papers in the collection, except for most of the clippings, are original. There are no restrictions on the collection. Although there are numerous items in the collection relating to Clement’s terms as governor, the official papers of Governor Clement are in a special collection in the Tennessee State Library and Archives identified as Governor Frank G. Clement. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH FRANK GOAD CLEMENT 1920 June 2, born the son of Robert S. and Maybelle Goad Clement in Dickson, Tennessee. Removed with parents for a short period of residence in Vermont and later to Scottsville and Bowling Green, Kentucky. 1926-1933 Received elementary schooling in Scottsville and Bowling Green. 1933 Returned with parents to Dickson, Tennessee. 1933-1937 Received secondary schooling in Dickson and Lebanon, Tennessee, and Scottsville, Kentucky; graduated from Dickson High School. 1937-1939 Attended Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tennessee. 1939-1942 Attended and received a LL.B. Degree from Vanderbilt University. 1940 January 6, married Lucille Christianson, daughter of Nelson and Mary Laverne Mitchum Christianson, in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. 1942-1943 Federal bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent, assigned to the investigation of espionage, sabotage, problems of internal security, selective service investigations, and general criminal investigations. 1943 September 23, son born, Robert Nelson; November 12, inducted into the U.S. Army at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. 1944 July, promoted to Corporal. 1944-1946 Served as Second Lieutenant with the Military Police Battalion at Fort Sam Houston, Texas; as First Lieutenant and commanding officer of Company C of the Military Police Battalion at Camp Bullis, Texas; discharged March 28. 1946 President of Dickson County Young Democratic Club; March-August, practiced law in Dickson, Tennessee. 1946-1950 General Counsel for the State Public Utilities Commission. 1948 Alternate delegate-at-large to the National Democratic Convention. 1949 State Commander of the American Legion; Red Cross Chairman for the campaign among state employees; selected as the outstanding young man of the year by the State Junior Chamber of Commerce; August 1, son born, Frank, Jr. 1950-1953 Practiced law with his father, Robert S. Clement, in Dickson and Nashville, Tennessee. 1950-1951 Recalled as a reserve officer for a sixteen month tour of duty with U. S. Army at Camp Gordon, Virginia. 1953-1959 Served two terms (one, two years; and one, four years) as Governor of Tennessee. 1954 Voted by the U. S. Junior Chamber of Commerce as one of the “Ten Outstanding Young Men In the United States.” 1955 Elected chairman of the Southern Governors’ Conference; named chairman of the Cordell Hull Foundation. 1956 Keynote speaker at the Democratic National Convention. 1959-1963 Resumed law practice. 1963-1967 Elected to a third term as Governor of Tennessee. 1964 Unsuccessful candidate for Democratic nomination for U. S. Senate. 1966 Unsuccessful Democratic candidate for U. S. senate. 1967-1969 Resumed practice of law with partner Grant W. Smith. 1969 November 4, killed in auto accident on Franklin Road, Nashville, and interred at Dickson County Memorial Gardens, Dickson, Tennessee. Organizations Methodist 32nd Degree Mason Shriner SAE College Fraternity Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity Dickson County Junior Chamber of Commerce Kiwanis American Legion Honorary Degrees Baylor University, 1954 King College, 1954 Bob Jones University, 1956 Lincoln Memorial University, 1956 John Brown University, 1965 Sources: Frank Goad Clement Papers: Box 75, folder 15 Greene, Lee. Lead Me On: Frank Goad Clement and Tennessee Politics Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 1982. STAFF OF FRANK GOAD CLEMENT Anderson, Howard.....................................................Press Secretary Anderson, Juanita.......................................................Clerk Typist Arnold, Bettye............................................................Clerk Typist Bassham, Jo................................................................Secretary to Press Secretary Beckett, Harriet..........................................................Secretary to FGC Berry, Evelyn..............................................................Clerk Typist Burt, Ruth...................................................................Secretary to FGC Cheney, Lon................................................................Speech Writer Clemons, Lily Jewell....................................................Secretary to Lucille Clement Cross, Lt. Harold.........................................................Aide to FGC Dickens, Mrs. Pat Rinehart...........................................Secretary to FGC Drown, Mrs. Jeanne.....................................................Secretary to Executive Assistant Eubanks, Leota............................................................Aide/Secretary Fajorado, Roque..........................................................Press Office Fisher, Douglas............................................................Press Secretary Gibbs, Ellyn.................................................................Secretary to FGC Groce, Ben..................................................................Speech Writer Haun, Judy B...............................................................Scheduling Secretary Jones, Eddie.................................................................Press Secretary Langhans, Mrs. Mary Ann............................................Appointments Secretary Moody, Mary...............................................................Appointments Secretary Morgan, Bob................................................................Press Office Nicely, Glen.................................................................Executive Assistant Shaffer, Marjorie..........................................................Clerk Secretary Shoulders, Billy............................................................Executive Assistant Smith, Mary E..............................................................Personal Secretary to FGC Sweeney, Joyce............................................................Clerk Typist Watson, Mrs. Lowrey...................................................Clerk/Secretary SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE The Frank Goad Clement Papers, containing approximately 6000 items and 66 volumes, span the period 1920-1969, although it is largely concentrated between 1952-1969. The material is arranged alphabetically by type of document and is composed of certificates, clippings, correspondence, financial records, invitations, programs, etc., legal files, political campaign materials, photographs, drawings, etc., scheduling, scrapbooks, speeches, addresses, etc., and several miscellaneous items. There are over fifty certificates issued to Frank Goad Clement (1920-1969) ranging from honorary appointments to appreciation for service rendered by the former governor of Tennessee. Clippings largely pertain to Clement and his role in Tennessee politics between 1952-1967. They cover such topics as Clement’s relationship with Sen. Estes Kefauver; as Tennessee American Legion Commander; his position on desegregation in the 1950s; as the keynote speaker at the Democratic national convention in 1956; and as a religious person as well as a speaker. There are other clippings relating to Annabelle Clement O’Brien (1923- ), Maybelle Goad Clement (1895-1987), Lucille Christianson Clement (1920- ), Dave Garoway and the “Today” show, Billy Graham and Lamar Alexander. Correspondence comprises a substantial portion of the collection. It has been divided into three categories: general, subject, and Clement’s political campaigns. General correspondence, in turn, has been sub-divided according to the receiver. Among the more prominent correspondents are Eddy Arnold, Gene Autry, James